Amiens, France - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Amiens, France

Weather: Partly cloudy, 54/71F.

Route: From Luxembourg City 367 km west on A26.

Population: 133,891

Significance: The World Heritage Site status is specific to the 13th century gothic cathedral. It is known for other things as well - such as being the home to Jules Verne and where President Emmanuel Macron grew up.  It was heavily involved in both WWI and WWII. 

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site

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Images:

The front of the cathedral (from whc.unesco.org)

The interior with 42 meter high ceilings (from whc.unesco.org)

Luxembourg City, Luxembourg - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Luxembourg City, Luxembourg

Weather: Steady rain, 56/70F.

Route: From Trier 49 km WSW on A1.

Population: 124,528

Places to visit: Cathedral Notre-Dame, Casemates du Bock, National Museum of Art and History, Palace of the Grand Dukes, Modern Art Museum, Letzebuerg City Museum, National Museum of Natural History.

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site

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Fortifications and Cathedral in the background (from whc.unesco.org)

Palace of the Grand Dukes (From whc.unesco.org)

Trier, Germany - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Trier, Germany

Weather: Light rain with thunderstorms, 58/75F.

Route: From Strasbourg 218 km north on A4 and A1.

Population: 111,528

Significance: Trier has more remaining Roman buildings than maybe anywhere outside Italy. The large Porta Nigra has guarded the entrance to the city for over 2,000 years.  The slopes of the Mosel River outside town is filled with vineyards first introduced by the Romans.

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site

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Porta Nigra (from whc.unesco.org)

The Trier cathedral - oldest in Germany - first built in the 4th century (from whc.unesco.org)

Strasbourg, France - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Strasbourg, France

Weather: Showers early then scattered thunderstorms, 59/79F.

Route: From Nancy 160 km east on N4 and A4.

Population: 284,677

Places to visit: Cathedrale Notre Dame de Strasbourg, Parc de l'Orangerie, Barrage Vauban, Musee Alsacien, Palais de Rohan, Musee historique de la Ville de Strasbourg, Le Vaisseau, Musee d'Art Moderne et Contemporain.

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site

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Half timbered buildings date back to medieval times (whc.unesco.org)

Notre-Dame Cathedral (from whc.unesco.org)

Nancy, France - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Nancy, France

Weather: Showers early becoming a steady light rain later in the day, 58/75F.

Route: From Reims 245 km ESE on A4 and A31.

Population: 104,885

Significance: The World Heritage Site is centered on three squares built in the mid-18th century by Stanislas Leszczynski, Duke of Lorraine.  The buildings in these squares are baroque design - meant to be a connection from the old medieval city and the new city.

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site

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Place de la Carriere (from whc.unesco.org)

Place Stanislas (from whc.unesco.org)

Reims, France - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Reims, France

Weather: Partly cloudy early, showers in the afternoon, 58/76F.

Route: From Provins 117 km NE on A4.

Population: 182,211

Significance: Reims was the place where French kings were coronated for centuries. The main historical buildings are the cathedral, the former abbey, and the Tau palace.

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site

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The cathedral of Notre-Dame (from whc.unesco.org)

One of the smiling angels on the walls of Notre-Dame (from whc.unesco.org)

Provins, France - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Provins, France

Weather: Mainly sunny, 57/80F.

Route: From Fontainebleau 53 km ENE on D210 and D403.

Population: 12,000

Significance: A story of benign neglect, where an economic downturn to a town benefits us today by freezing a place in time - Provins is a great example of a medieval walled town.  It has a large Caesar tower built for defensive purposes. The large church was never finished because the town ran out of money.

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site

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Images:

The main gate (from whc.unesco.org)

The Ceasar Tower (from whc.unesco.org)